About this Research Topic
The immune system is critical in protecting the body against cancer by identifying and eliminating abnormal cells. However, cancer cells can evade the immune system and establish a tumor mass. To overcome this, novel strategies have been developed to boost the immune response against cancer, including bioactive food components. Bioactive food components are naturally occurring substances in food that have been shown to benefit human health, including the ability to modulate the immune system. These components can act on different immune cells, such as T, B, natural killer, and dendritic cells, to enhance their activity and promote an antitumor response.
For example, polyphenols, abundant in fruits, vegetables, and beverages such as tea and wine, have been shown to inhibit tumor growth by activating T cells and natural killer cells. Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in grapes and red wine, can induce cell death in cancer cells and enhance the activity of dendritic cells, which play a critical role in activating the immune response against tumors. Another bioactive food component with promising anticancer properties is curcumin, a compound found in turmeric. Curcumin has been shown to modulate the immune response by activating T cells and inhibiting the proliferation of regulatory T cells, which can suppress the immune response against tumors. Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fatty fish such as salmon, have also been shown to have immunomodulatory effects. These fatty acids can enhance the activity of natural killer cells and inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can promote tumor growth.
This Research Topic aims to bring together the latest research on the immunomodulatory effects of bioactive food components in the context of cancer. Overall, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art in using bioactive food components to enhance the immune response against cancer and identify new opportunities and challenges for future research in this field.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that explore the mechanisms of action of bioactive food components on the immune system, their potential use as adjuvants to cancer therapy, and their impact on clinical outcomes. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- The role of bioactive food components in modulating the activity of immune cells involved in the antitumor response
- The effect of bioactive food components on the expression of immune checkpoint molecules and their potential use in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors
- The impact of bioactive food components on the gut microbiome and their potential influence on the immune response against tumors
- The use of bioactive food components as nutraceuticals to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapy
- The development of novel formulations and delivery systems to optimize the bioavailability and effectiveness of bioactive food components for cancer immunotherapy.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
For example, polyphenols, abundant in fruits, vegetables, and beverages such as tea and wine, have been shown to inhibit tumor growth by activating T cells and natural killer cells. Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in grapes and red wine, can induce cell death in cancer cells and enhance the activity of dendritic cells, which play a critical role in activating the immune response against tumors. Another bioactive food component with promising anticancer properties is curcumin, a compound found in turmeric. Curcumin has been shown to modulate the immune response by activating T cells and inhibiting the proliferation of regulatory T cells, which can suppress the immune response against tumors. Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fatty fish such as salmon, have also been shown to have immunomodulatory effects. These fatty acids can enhance the activity of natural killer cells and inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can promote tumor growth.
This Research Topic aims to bring together the latest research on the immunomodulatory effects of bioactive food components in the context of cancer. Overall, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art in using bioactive food components to enhance the immune response against cancer and identify new opportunities and challenges for future research in this field.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that explore the mechanisms of action of bioactive food components on the immune system, their potential use as adjuvants to cancer therapy, and their impact on clinical outcomes. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- The role of bioactive food components in modulating the activity of immune cells involved in the antitumor response
- The effect of bioactive food components on the expression of immune checkpoint molecules and their potential use in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors
- The impact of bioactive food components on the gut microbiome and their potential influence on the immune response against tumors
- The use of bioactive food components as nutraceuticals to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapy
- The development of novel formulations and delivery systems to optimize the bioavailability and effectiveness of bioactive food components for cancer immunotherapy.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
Keywords: Stimulating effects, bioactive food components, immune responses, cancer therapy
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
